The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-07-20
THE OLD MANS DOOM.
Jacob Sharp, Chief Boodler, Sen.
fenced to Four Years Hard
Labor in Sing Sing.
A Fine or $1,000 Also Imposed on
Him - The Remarks OF
the Judge.
New York special

New York special.
Jacob Sharp, chief of the New York
"boodlers, has been sentenced TO Sing Sing
for term of four years with hard labor,
and a fine Of $1,000 was imposed upon him.
The clock was indicating almost noon
WREN Sharp was almost carried into the
courtroom His suffering wife and son-in-
law we've close behind him, and deep lines
o; WEAKNESS and sorrow overspread
their faces as they seated themselves
beside the convicted man and famed his
livid face without bringing anything like a
semblance of color back TO it, Sharp sat
with casped hands and bowed head at the
foot of the table, facing the bench. His
face, almos, buried in his chest, WAS
flushed and sickly looking under the riv-
eted gaze Of all present, who Were silently
staring at the convicted railroad king.
Mrs. Sharp and the rest of the family,
like the prisoner himself, were silent.
There was applause in the courtroom
when Judge Barrett delivered the sentence,
and outside the announcement was greet
ed with cheers.
Sharps lawyer moved for a new trial,
but it was denied. The Court, in pro-
nouncing sentence, said the task he had TO
perform was the most delicate in his whole
professional career. He had received many
letters from many people, pleading
for mercy for Sharp. But court
was not appointed to be merciful
any more than was dictated by the
laws of justice. "A Judge is appointed TO
award penalty accord ng to the offense,
when all the circumstances connected with
the commission OF the ofense have been
duly weighed and considered. The de-
PENDANT herein asking for mercy can give
nothing as plea for clemency but age and
sickness. On the merits of the case he
cert Iinly is entitled to none. 1t is absurd
to state that he was not guilty of giving the
brides, as he was Enthusiastically the leader
of the whole affair. There is not here. as
in the case of the aldermen. any attempt to
prove the defendants good character. The
crime itself was an enormous one-the
raising of S5O0,00J to corrupt half legis-
lature."
Judge Barrett reviewed the corrupt ac-
ton of the defendant in forming a bogus
company TO contract with the Seventh Az
enue Railway, of which he is a director,
and alluded TO the defendants receiving
S1,000,000 of profit as sheer larceny, for
which he could have been indicted lust as
we'll as for bribery. The Judge continued:
what is there to excite pity or mercy
except the age and ill-health OF the pIis-
oner and the mourning condition of his
family! WIN over II ,UOJ,OuO In his pocket
he clamors for mercy without offering TO
pay back penny OF the money stolen, so
that, should he die in prison. his family
has vast fortune to fall back upon"
At this Mrs. Sharp buried her face in
her handkerchief and wept silently, while
the prisoner himself did not lift his face
from the table.
The Legislature does not allow us to 60
below the minimum penalty in such n grave
otfense as the present is" continued Judge
Barrett. "All cannot be sat SIZED; those
who clamor for the prisoners receiving the
full penalty of the law and those calling for
a reprimand. All things have been consid-
cred, and the judgment of this court is that
the prisoner be confined four years at hard
labor and that he pay a fine of $4,000"
Sharp was sent back to spend the night
in Ludlow Street Jail. Application was
made to Judge Potter, of the Supreme
Court, for a stay of proceedings.